The Californian (1880s magazine) facts for kids
The Californian was a magazine published in San Francisco a long time ago, from 1880 to 1882. It came out every month. It was like a new version of an older magazine called Overland Monthly, which had stopped being published in 1875. After a few years, The Californian actually changed back into Overland Monthly in late 1882.
Contents
A Magazine for the West
The Californian started with Frederick M. Somers as its first editor. He wanted the magazine to focus only on stories and topics from the Western United States. Some people even called it "Somers' Californian" to tell it apart from other magazines with similar names.
When the first issue came out, the magazine explained its goal. It said The Californian would be "thoroughly Western in character." This meant it would be about the West, its people, and its unique style. It aimed to be interesting for regular readers, not just for very serious literary experts.
Who Wrote for The Californian?
Many famous writers contributed to The Californian. These included well-known authors and poets like Joaquin Miller, Edward Rowland Sill, and Ambrose Bierce. Even famous nature writer John Muir shared his work.
Other contributors were Josiah Royce, Joseph LeConte, and Charles Edwin Markham. Important women writers also wrote for the magazine. These included Yda Hillis Addis, Katharine Lee Bates, Kate Douglas Wiggin, and Ina Coolbrith.
How People Liked the Magazine
About six months after it started, other newspapers and magazines had good things to say. In California, the San Francisco Bulletin newspaper said The Californian was a good follow-up to The Overland Monthly. The Oakland Tribune called it a "capital magazine." They said it showed how creative and cultured the Pacific Coast was.
Praise for the magazine also spread to the Eastern United States. The Daily Hawkeye in Burlington, Iowa, noted that its articles were just as good as those in Eastern magazines. In Philadelphia, the Chronicle-Herald pointed out that many writers were women. They wrote with "much grace and force." The newspaper felt the magazine truly captured the spirit of the Pacific.
Changing Back to Overland Monthly
After Frederick M. Somers, a lawyer and poet named Charles Henry Phelps became the editor. Phelps continued to edit The Californian until it stopped publishing in September 1882.
For three months, starting in October 1882, the magazine was called The Californian and Overland Monthly. Then, in January 1883, they completely dropped "Californian" from the name. The magazine officially became Overland Monthly again, bringing back the older, well-known title.
